Viral Images of Susta Border Incident Found to Be AI-Generated

Kathmandu. Images circulating on social media claiming to show Nepali locals driving away Indian security personnel from the Susta border area have been confirmed to be AI-generated, despite the underlying border incident having actually occurred.

The photos gained widespread attention after House of Representatives member and Shram Sanskriti Party Chair Harka Sampang shared two images on Friday, raising questions directed at Prime Minister Balen Shah.

A technical analysis found that the viral images were created using an artificial intelligence tool developed by OpenAI. Visual inconsistencies in the images, including distorted facial features and unrealistic blending of subjects, indicated that they were not authentic photographs.

One of the images depicts armed personnel identified as members of India's border security force standing near a riverbank while facing a crowd of locals. Another image appears to show Indian security personnel being chased by residents. Both images were determined to be AI-generated.

The fabricated visuals appear to have been created using screenshots or references from genuine photographs and videos published by Nepali media outlets, including Setopati, Kantipur and Nepal Press.

While the images are fake, reports indicate that an incident involving Indian security personnel entering the Susta border area did take place.

According to Setopati, five armed Indian security personnel entered Nepali territory in Susta Rural Municipality of West Nawalparasi at around 7 a.m. on Friday. Adam Hussein, ward chair of Ward No. 5, said the personnel crossed into Nepali territory through a culvert near the Tutnawa area along the border.

Residents working in nearby fields reportedly confronted the personnel and compelled them to return across the border.

Separately, Kantipur reported that Nepali security personnel were deployed to the area. Quoting West Nawalparasi Chief District Officer Deepak Raj Ghimire, the newspaper said the situation had since returned to normal.

Setopati also reported that residents resisted the armed personnel and prevented them from advancing further into Nepali territory.

The findings confirm that while the Susta border incident itself was real, the dramatic images depicting clashes and pursuit that spread widely on social media were artificially generated and do not represent actual photographs from the scene.

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